need help diagnosing noise

[maddzz1]

I have a noise coming from the front driver side wheel area. It is kind of like a clicking/knocking (at 1st I thought my engine was knocking). The faster I go the faster the the noise; if I tap the brake, even if not hard enough to slow the truck, the noise stops. The FSM says possibly loose side gears in differential. I am also thinking possuibly u-joint.

 

How do I check for loose side gears?

[Pete M]

Did you get a chance yet to jack up the one tire and spin it by hand?

[maddzz1]

Did you get a chance yet to jack up the one tire and spin it by hand?

 

No pete, i worked last night and spent today ay the dentist then fighting with pay pal and capital one. :mad:

[maddzz1]

After some more research I am leaning toward ball joints.

[Pete M]

While they may be bad, I've never had a ball joint make a speed-dependent repeating noise like that. :hmm:

[Geonovast]

Sounds like a U-joint to me. Easy enough to check, just turn the wheels all the way to the left, then reach in there, grab the axle shaft, and wiggle it. If it moves, you'll see the bad U-joint.

[maddzz1]

New info:

If I turn the wheel to the left and swerve to that side of the road the noise stays. When I turn the wheel back to the right and swerve to that side of the road the noise stops.

[mvusse]

I'm guessing U-joint.